FF Walkthrough

Exdeath's Castle

This is one of the game's longest dungeons. Pack healing items, make sure your equipment is current, and save often. The enemies hit hard, and Gilgamesh waits at the top. ## Entering the Castle After the failed frontal assault, Galuf finds another way in through a side entrance. The party infiltrates Castle Exdeath while the main forces distract Exdeath's army. You'll start in the basement area. The first few floors are maze-like with multiple paths. Most lead to treasure; the correct path up is usually in the northeast corner of each floor. Don't skip the side rooms. The Ice Shield and Diamond Shield are both solid upgrades depending on your setup. ## Enemy Notes Blind Wolves cast Darkness on the party. Bring Eye Drops or have Esuna ready. Reflect Mages are annoying; they auto-reflect spells, so target them with physical attacks. The Twin Lizards come in pairs and can petrify. Gold Needles are essential here. If you have a Blue Mage, this dungeon has some useful spells to learn. Magic Hammer from Apanda drains MP. Doom from various undead enemies is instant death with a countdown. Neither is mandatory, but both are useful. ## Mid-Dungeon Save There's a save point on 6F near the Partisan chest. Use it. The dungeon continues for several more floors, and the boss fight is coming. If your MP is low, use Ethers here. The Chemist's !Mix can create Ether alternatives if you're short. Past the save point, the dungeon shifts to a more linear path. You're climbing the tower portion now. The enemies get slightly tougher, but the layout is simpler. ## Gilgamesh At the top of the castle, you'll encounter Gilgamesh, Exdeath's lieutenant. He's blocking your path and spoiling for a fight.
Gilgamesh
HP: 11500

Your first encounter with FF5's recurring rival. He talks big but isn't too threatening. After taking enough damage, he flees rather than dies.

Strategy

  • He has no elemental weakness; stick to raw damage
  • Haste your party and keep attacking; he'll run around 6000 damage
  • His attacks hurt but aren't lethal; one healer with Curaga is enough
  • Don't waste your best abilities; save them for later Gilgamesh fights

Rewards: 0 EXP, 0 Gil (he escapes)

Gilgamesh isn't a true boss fight; he retreats once you've hurt him enough. He'll show up again several more times throughout the game, each encounter tougher than the last. This is just the introduction. ## The Prison After Gilgamesh flees, you'll find Bartz, Lenna, and Faris imprisoned. Wait. Those three should be with Galuf. Something's wrong. Turns out Galuf came alone. The party was captured while he infiltrated the castle by himself. He's been soloing the entire dungeon. This scene hits differently when you realize a single 60-year-old man fought through Castle Exdeath alone to save his friends. Free the prisoners and the party reunites. But Exdeath appears and traps everyone. Just when things look grim, the Big Bridge opens as a possible escape route. The party flees across the bridge while Exdeath's forces give chase. ## After the Castle Escaping the castle dumps you near the Big Bridge. You can't go back; the entrance is sealed. The only way forward is across the bridge and into the next territory. Before proceeding, check your inventory. If you're low on healing items, you might want to find a town first. The Big Bridge is a gauntlet with no save points until the end. Your job abilities and levels should be solid by now. If you've been spreading ABP too thin, consider focusing on two or three jobs per character. Mastery takes time, but concentrated effort pays off faster. The next chapter covers the Big Bridge and your second encounter with Gilgamesh. That fight's more memorable than this one. ## Treasure Chests
Ice Shield
2F, northwest room
Ether
3F, behind false wall
Elixir
5F, dead end corridor
Diamond Shield
7F, guarded room
Gale Bow
8F, side chamber
9900 Gil
4F, treasure room
Partisan
6F, near save point